The real reasons behind the Virginia Parole Board's repeated denials may include resistance from victims and their families or from local jurisdictions unwilling to have an offender return to their community, though such reasons are never stated. And it may be that wardens welcome having mature older role models remain in the population as a positive influence for younger and/or more incorrigible ones, but that is mere speculation.
Whatever the case, most of the reasons cited for not granting release to deserving individuals have nothing to do with the degree of rehabilitation they have demonstrated during their incarceration.
Margaret Breslau, co-founder and chair of the Blacksburg-based Coalition for Justice, published the following in her June 2025 issue of the Virginia Prison Justice Network newsletter:
In 2024, the total number of incarcerated people eligible for parole was 2,663. Only 19 were granted.
The top non-grant reasons cited were:
1. Release at this time would diminish seriousness of crime. The Board concludes that you should serve more of your sentence prior to release on parole.
2. Serious nature and circumstances of your offense(s).
3. Extensive criminal record.
4. Your prior failure(s) and/or convictions while under community supervision indicate that you are unlikely to comply with conditions of release.
5. History of substance abuse.
6. Considering your offense and your institutional records, the Board concludes that you should serve more of your sentence before being paroled.
7. You need further participation in institutional work and/or educational programs to indicate your positive progression towards re-entry into society.
8. History of violence.
9. No Interest in Parole
6. Considering your offense and your institutional records, the Board concludes that you should serve more of your sentence before being paroled.
7. You need further participation in institutional work and/or educational programs to indicate your positive progression towards re-entry into society.
8. History of violence.
9. No Interest in Parole
Note: Here's a link to a post about legislation that would bring about needed changes in how parole decisions are made: https://harvyoder.blogspot.com/2025/05/the-virginia-parole-board-modest.html
